Integrity, Character, McCain

Why I support John McCain

Let' me start out by saying that we as a nation are blessed by both of the candidates running for office.

Should Obama win in November we will be in good hands. Obama is articulate, thoughful and bright. I do not fear Barack Obama. Now having said that, why do I support John McCain?

To me it comes down to a proven sense of character and integrity. It also comes down to political courage.

John McCain's political campaign can be compared to the rising of Lazarus. McCain a year ago was dead. He went to war with his own party in an attempt to pass the McCain/Kennedy Bill which would have provided a path to legalization for over 14 million undocumented workers in America.

Laura Ingraham referred to him on the radio as Juan McKennedy. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity went after him too. The only conservative talk show hosts that supported the amnesty bill were Larry Elder and Michael Medev.

McCain was demonized by 90% of the right wing talk show hosts including local yokels John and Ken.

At that point McCain was polling 7% of the Republican primary voters. McCain was counted out by all of the pundits.

In the middle of the Republican candidate's debate, when all of the other candidates talked about deportation, McCain reminded us of the sacrifice that Hispanics have made for this country. He spoke of the Hispanic names carved into the Viet Nam war Memorial in Washington. He spoke of the thousands of Green Card Holders who had joined the Armed Forces due to their love of this country.

My son Noe is one of them. We are the proud parents of a Green Card-holding Sailor in the U.S. Navy.

On immigration matters Obama has talked the talk. McCain has walked the walk.

John McCain has taken on every Republican president. From voting against deploying Marines to Beirut, Lebanon during the Reagan administration to criticizing the Bush administration on the Iraq war.

He went out on the limb and pressed the Bush administration to send additional troops to Iraq. He supported the surge. Today in an interview with Bill O'Reily, Barack Obama admitted that the surge had worked beyond anyone's expectations.

In Viet Nam, he was shot down. His arms and leg were broken. He was bayoneted. He was tortured. He was offered early release due to his being the son of an admiral. He refused because there were other pilots who had been there longer than him. The Navy Code was first in, first out. He suffered an additional four year in brutal torturous captivity.

Barack Obama is a great candidate. A thoughful man. But I for one will vote for John McCain. Character, integrity and, as we say in Spanish: Cojones.